Karen Fraser Wyche facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karen Wyche
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Alma mater | BA, Adelphi University;
MSW, University of Maryland; PhD, University of Missouri |
Occupation | Clinical Psychologist, Research Professor |
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Scientific career | |
Institutions | George Washington University |
Karen Fraser Wyche is a smart and caring clinical psychologist. She is also a research professor. Her work helps us understand how people deal with stress. She also studies how women from different backgrounds handle tough times.
Dr. Wyche also looks at how communities can be strong after a disaster. She teaches about being respectful of different cultures. This helps people work better together. Besides her clinical work, Dr. Wyche helps women from minority groups. She works to make sure they have good chances in universities. She is a Research Professor at George Washington University.
Dr. Wyche is a respected member of several psychology groups. These include the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. She also belongs to the Society of Clinical Psychology. The Society for the Psychology of Women gave her two special awards. She received the Sue Rosenberg Zalk Award in 2009. In 2012, she got the Carolyn Wood Sherif Award. These awards honored her important work in the psychology of women. In 2017, she became an Honorary Member of Sigma Theta Tau. This is a nursing honor society.
Dr. Wyche has helped write important books. She co-edited Women's Ethnicities: Journeys Through Psychology. She was also an editor for the APA Handbook of the Psychology of Women.
Contents
Karen Wyche's Life Story
Dr. Wyche grew up in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City. She was surrounded by many strong women. These women inspired her to care about women's rights.
She earned her first degree in political science. This was from Adelphi University. After college, she worked at a YMCA program. This program helped girls after school. Her experiences there made her want to go to graduate school. She earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. This was from the University of Maryland. She then worked in several jobs while raising her family. Later, she decided to go back to school. She earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology. This degree was from the University of Missouri.
Before joining George Washington University, Dr. Wyche taught at other schools. She was a professor at Brown University. She also taught at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Understanding Dr. Wyche's Research
Dr. Wyche's research explores the lives of African-American women. She studies their place in society. She also looks at their mental health. She often focuses on women who have faced difficulties. She studies how they cope and stay strong.
Helping Women Through Therapy
Dr. Wyche has contributed to research on feminist therapy. This type of therapy helps women feel stronger. It helps them understand how society affects their lives. In one of her studies, she gathered thoughts from women. These women were in group psychotherapy sessions. This helped her understand their views as women.
Dr. Wyche also worked on a study about media images. She looked at how welfare recipients were shown in the news. This was during a time of welfare reform in the U.S. Her research showed that the media did not explain poverty well. It didn't show why people become poor.
Stories of Strength and Survival
Dr. Wyche has used storytelling methods and interviews. She recorded the life experiences of women with HIV. She also interviewed people who survived Hurricane Katrina.
In one paper, she studied community strength. This was in communities of first responders. These were people who helped after Hurricane Katrina. Dr. Wyche and her team interviewed 90 first responders. They found that these helpers had many ways to stay strong. They shared a common goal. They supported each other. They also shared leadership roles. They were flexible and good at solving problems. They also took time for self-reflection.